Summary: We explore two new automated methods to
quantify the impact of pain on the overall
behavior of the organism. Most current
methods for assessing pain in animals are based
on reflexive measures and require interaction
between the observer and the animal. We test
the hypothesis that different models of pain
(inflammatory or neuropathic) can be
differentiated based on performance on these
devices. Both methods take advantage of the
animal's natural preference for a dark
environment.
INTRODUCTION
We used a box divided into two compartments:
dark and bright. The apparatus was a clear
plastic box with half painted black. Both
compartments were equipped with an infrared
sensor to detect the entry of the animal.
In the motoric operant task (angle track), one
end of the box was raised so that the animal